Head to head
Black Scorpionfish vs Lionfish
Black Scorpionfish
VS Lionfish
The black scorpionfish and the lionfish are close relatives in the scorpionfish family, both armed with venomous fin spines, but they show off very differently.
| Black Scorpionfish | Lionfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Scorpaena porcus | Pterois (the lionfish genus) |
| Relationship | A fellow member of the scorpionfish family | A fellow member of the scorpionfish family |
| Appearance | A mottled brown, red, and black body with fleshy flaps and tassels that make it look like part of the rock | Bold reddish-brown and white stripes and long, showy, feather-like fins |
| Venom | Venomous spines along the dorsal fin and on the gill covers that cause a very painful sting | Up to 18 venomous dorsal, pelvic, and anal fin spines that deliver a painful sting used purely for defence |
| Hunting | Lies motionless on rock and weed and lunges at prey that comes within range | Corners prey with fan-like fins and flaring pectoral spines before engulfing it with an extremely fast strike |
| First aid | A sting is painful and is usually treated with hot water | A sting causes intense pain and swelling, and treatment is generally soaking the affected area in hot water |
| Range | Rocky shores and seagrass in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and the eastern Atlantic | Native to the Indo-Pacific reefs, and invasive across the western Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, widespread and common | Least Concern, and a damaging invader that has caused sharp declines in native reef fish |
Black Scorpionfish vs Lionfish: common questions
Are both fish venomous?
Yes, both have venomous fin spines that cause a painful sting, and in both cases the venom is used only for defence.
Which one is an invader?
The lionfish, which was introduced to the western Atlantic in the 1980s and 1990s and has spread across the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Which one is better camouflaged?
The black scorpionfish, whose mottled body and fleshy tassels make it look like part of the rock.